This article is the second in a series on Isaiah 9:6. To read the first article: https://www.davidprince.com/2019/12/03/for-to-us-is-born-the-wonderful-counselor/
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. – Isaiah 9:6
The second part of the four-fold name is “Mighty God.” The name is also used in Isaiah 10:21 in reference to the Lord himself, “A remnant will return, the remnant of Jacob, to the mighty God.” The usage in Isaiah 10:21 clarifies that “Mighty God” in Isaiah 9:6 is not merely a reference to an ideal god-like king, but rather is God with us (Isaiah 7:14).
The Hebrew word translated “Mighty” in Isaiah 9:6, does not merely refer to strength and power. The word also has a sense of heroic and noble. The Lexham Theological Wordbook (2014) defines “Mighty” here to refer to a hero, champion, or warrior of “exceptional strength, courage, or military prowess.”
This child born and son given, is not only the Wonderful (supernatural) Counselor who has all of the wisdom we need but also the Heroic Warrior-God of his people who possesses all of the power we need. Each of the four names contains something of the human and the divine, pointing to the fact that the baby will be the man who is God, born to rule an everlasting kingdom (Isaiah 9:6-7). His birth is the means by which a new dawn will rise, light will overcome darkness (Isaiah 9:1-2), and deliverance will come (Isaiah 9:3-5).
This Christmas season (and every season!) think much of Jesus Christ who was born the “Mighty God” so that your faith may rejoice and trust in his ability to accomplish for us a complete salvation. Meditate on the fact that the Lord entered human history as a baby to reign in human flesh. God’s answer to all of the tyrants and rebellion in the world is the baby who is Mighty God. John Calvin explains our need of Mighty God in his commentary on Isaiah 9:6, reminding us that we would have no hope “if the strength of Christ had not rendered us invincible.” Invincible! Merry Christmas.
